Instead, the Green Wave likely will be getting a home game against Brigham Young plus four future guaranteed ESPN appearances as part of a deal with the network to allow the Crimson Tide open its 2009 season against Virginia Tech in Atlanta.

"Our intention is to have a home marquee game every season, and we're going to do that," Tulane Athletic Director Rick Dickson said of the switch. "There are a lot of upsides to this."

Tulane had already agreed to switch the 2009 LSU game to Baton Rouge with the Tigers playing in the Superdome in 2010 and 2011. Dickson that deal remains intact.

But part of the reason the Wave was amenable to the switch because of having Alabama on the home schedule for next year.

Now that game is gone as well, although the Crimson Tide, against whom Tulane opens this season on Sept. 6 in Tuscaloosa, Ala., is now scheduled to play in New Orleans in 2012.

"We feel that we are lined up well with BYU next year, then LSU for two seasons and then Alabama," Dickson said. "This started out with us having LSU and Alabama at home next year, but we wanted to balance out the schedule."

Dickson added that along with the ESPN guarantees, there are other financial considerations involved in the switch.

The Alabama-Virginia Tech deal had been in the works for several weeks and depended on the Tide and ESPN finding an opponent for Tulane.

Dickson said that team will mostly likely be BYU with the formal announcement to be made next week.

Tulane defeated the Cougars in the 1998 Liberty Bowl to wrap up its 12-0 season but then lost at BYU, 70-35, in 2000.

Dickson said the deal with BYU would include a future game in Provo. Utah.

No date is set for the 2009 Tulane-BYU game. The Alabama game was scheduled for Sept. 12.